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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I feel like I need to add my two cents
because I am one of only two tuners in my county. &nbsp;Most tuners from the
closest city either won&#8217;t drive here or charge a ridiculous amount for
mileage.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I&#8217;ve been able to charge pretty much
whatever I want because people out here are desperate for a tuner.&nbsp;
However, the majority of our population is not wealthy and there is a line between
a fair price for a service and gouging your customer because you can.&nbsp; I
try to charge enough that I can make a living, attract only serious customers,
and provide more &#8220;bang for the customer&#8217;s buck&#8221;.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Michelle Smith<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
  color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:navy'>Bastrop</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy
 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State
 w:st="on">Texas</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>reggaepass@aol.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, December 06, 2007
12:23 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> pianotech@ptg.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: Scheduling question</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I'd like to underscore what Ed has said. &nbsp;Incrementally raise your
rates until you reach that balance between being sufficiently booked (whatever
that is for your personal comfort level and lifestyle) and having at least some
potential customers not schedule an appointment because they want cheaper.
&nbsp;(If they are serious about maintaining their pianos, don't worry, they'll
be back!). &nbsp;According to the accountant of the highest earning tech I
know, at that end of the spectrum, if one third of inquiring potential clients
don't think you are too expensive, then you are not charging enough! YMMV. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Alan Eder<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

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